Cyan Magenta Yellow Black A Hunger for More, A4 A mysterious, shocking appearance, Part 1, A5 Point Pleasant, West Virginia 50 CENTS • Vol. 118, No. 26 FRIDAY, APRIL 23, 2010 www.mydailyregister.com OBITUARIES Persons Page A3 Massey seeks to reassure • Wilma E. Boring • Mr. and Mrs. Lester Roush arrested investors over explosion on heroin More C8 health BY TIM HUBER Chief Executive Don Blankenship sought to reas- safety. Nothing could be ASSOCIATED PRESS Blankenship’s role. sure Wall Street. further from the truth.” charges studies planned Lawsuits filed on behalf of “The explosion was not Massey’s board of direc- CHARLESTON — in W.Va., Ohio victims and shareholders caused by willful disregard tors, meanwhile, issued a BY DELYSSA HUFFMAN Massey Energy officials are are increasing. Government for safety regulations as the statement saying [email protected] PARKERSBURG (AP) trying to reassure investors regulators continue to criti- media would have you Blankenship has its full sup- — Researchers studying the that the company can recov- cize the company’s safety believe,” Blankenship said port. POINT PLEASANT — effect of a chemical used to er from an explosion that record. And the company during a conference call “During times like these, David Michael Persons, make non-stick coatings are killed 29 people at one of its says second-quarter losses with analysts. “Some of the a change in senior manage- 48, of West Columbia was planning another round of most valuable coal mines. could range from $80 mil- implications have been that ment is not appropriate or in arrested on Tuesday for follow-up health studies in A growing number of lion to $150 million. we don’t focus on safety posses- West Virginia and Ohio. investors are questioning On Thursday, and we don’t put dollars on Please see Massey, A3 sion with Dr. Kyle Steenland intent to announced the studies sell and Wednesday during a visit to deliver Parkersburg. Steenland is a heroin by member of the C8 Science Mason Co. Quilt Trail adds 13th square the West Panel, which is studying Virginia whether the chemical C8 BY HOPE ROUSH State can be linked to disease as [email protected] Police part of a class action settle- Bureau of ment with the DuPont Co. POINT PLEASANT — Criminal Persons DuPont uses C8 at its The Mason County Quilt Investigations (BCI), West Washington Works plant. Trail is continuing to grow Virginia State Police- The chemical contaminated as the 13th square was Mason County six water districts in Ohio recently added. Detachment, and Federal and West Virginia. The latest square, which Drug Enforcement Agency Steenland says also serves as the first (DEA). researchers plan to compare square of 2010, is featured Persons was arrested disease rates in people who on the side of the USDA after a search warrant was had higher levels of C8 in Service Center, located on conducted on his resi- their blood in 2005-2006 Main Street behind the dence. The subject was with those who had lower Point Pleasant River held on bond awaiting levels to determine if there Museum. arraignment and transport- is any relationship. A dedication ceremony ed to the Western Regional for the square was held Jail. His cash only bond Thursday outside of the was set at a $50,000. USDA office. According to Molly Yauger of the quilt PORTS trail committee, the square S features the “delectable mountains” design. FRN to • Bradford No. 1 pick in “Quilters consider the NFL Draft. See Page B1 delectable mountains design host annual a West Virginia block because of the mountains here,” Yauger said. Teen Institute Commissioner Bob Baird, who also serves as the BY HOPE ROUSH chairman of the Western [email protected] Conservation District, spoke at the dedication as POINT PLEASANT — It well. He discussed the three is once again time for the offices located within the Family Resource Network’s USDA Service Center, annual Teen Institute. which include the Western The event, which serves Conservation District, the as a camp for area youth, is NRCS and the Farm Service slated to begin on Thursday, Agency (FSA). Baird also April 29 at the Mason said that the USDA Service County 4-H campground. Center was pleased to have The institute also will take a quilt square. place on Friday, April 30 “Hopefully the quilt trail and Saturday, May 1. will be something that the According to Greg area can build on,” he Fowler, FRN director, the added. Teen Institute is an opportu- According to Denny nity for area youth to partic- Bellamy, chairman of the ipate in training classes that Mason County Convention revolve around tobacco pre- and Visitors Bureau, 10 vention and drug/alcohol more quilt squares are awareness. Along with the scheduled to go up this year. training, youth have the WEATHER “The quilt trail is really a opportunity to participate in community effort. The sports, crafts and other career center carpentry class activities. builds all of the squares and Hope Roush/photo “(Teen Institute) is a great different clubs paint them,” On Thursday the latest quilt square was added to the Mason County Quilt Trail. The newest event,” Fowler said. he said. square is located on the side of the USDA Service Center building in Point Pleasant. Training sessions for the Bellamy also emphasized Pictured in front of the square are Ellen Mills-Pauley; Bob Baird, Mason County Teen Institute include: that the quilt trail was vital Commissioner and chairman of the Western Conservation District; Oscar Harris; and inmates from the Lakin Please see Quilt, A3 Jackie Wright. Please see FRN, A3 High: Upper 60s. ‘Ceremony of Hope’ Low: Lower 50s. reaches out to community BY DELYSSA HUFFMAN Marilyn Higginbotham NDEX [email protected] made a special presentation I of a hand-stitched picture of 2 SECTIONS — 12 PAGES POINT PLEASANT — what it means to be a sur- Approximately 50 people vivor. Other speakers Calendars A5 attended the ‘Ceremony of included Vanessa Harper, a Classifieds B3-4 Hope’ event held earlier this survivor, and Rick Handley, month to show their support a caregiver. Comics B5 and celebrate the lives of “I feel the event went Faith A3-5 those in Mason County who really well,” Brenda Darst, are survivors of cancer. survivor co-chairman said. NASCAR B6 During the event, special “We were all glad to see so presentations were made, Sports B Section many who came to share in the lighting of luminary our celebration.” © 2010 Ohio Valley Publishing Co. bags were placed on the According to Darst, the Point Pleasant Riverfront event brought new mem- Park steps — spelling Submitted photo bers, including two new Rick Handley and Vanessa Harper spoke during the ‘Ceremony of Hope’ event held at the ‘HOPE’, and many attended teams who signed up for the to share their experiences as Point Pleasant Riverfront Park on April 15 about their experience with cancer. Handley was survivors or caretakers. Please see Hope, A3 a caregiver and Harper is a survivor. Cyan Magenta Yellow Black Friday, April 23, 2010 www.mydailyregister.com Point Pleasant Register • Page A2 Obituaries Feds rest in W.Va. death penalty case BY LAWRENCE MESSINA out of his Red Jacket pizza Defense attorneys say she northern court district Wilma E. Boring ASSOCIATED PRESS parlor, possessing firearms decided to kill Collins on brought in to assist Lecco’s despite being a convicted her own during a cocaine defense. Wilma E. ‘Ernie’ Dowell Boring, 68, of Ashville, Ohio, CHARLESTON — felon and helping cover up binge and out of jealousy But prosecutors did pre- passed away on Wednesday, April 21, 2010, at Mt. Carmel Federal prosecutors finished Collins’ April 2005 murder. and long-simmering resent- sent recordings of jail con- West in Columbus, Ohio. presenting their case against Three charges in the 33- ment of the younger, pretti- versations between Burton She was born April 26, 1941 in Southside, a daughter to a man they say ordered a year-old’s slaying each er woman. and Lecco to allege he was the late Ernest Harry and Aretta Lyons Dowell. She was a drug informant murdered carry the federal death After the prosecution behind the murder. The jury graduate of Point Pleasant High School, Class of 1959, and minus the only witness who penalty. rested Wednesday without also heard from Valerie she also loved to play bingo. says she has direct knowl- Investigators had raided Burton, defense lawyers on Friend, who said Burton In addition to her parents, she is preceded in death by her edge that he arranged the Lecco’s Pizza Plus that Thursday asked U.S. enlisted her on Lecco’s brother, Chuck Dowell; and step granddaughter, Mica. slaying. February, when he offered District Judge John T. behalf to help her kill She is survived by her husband, Donald P. Boring of Lawyers for George to become an informant. He Copenhaver Jr. without Collins. Galloway, Ohio; brother, James Cody (Wendy) Dowell of Lecco also appear unlikely also arranged for Collins to success to dismiss those Friend, 47, had been Grove City, Ohio; sisters, Shirley Ann (Darrell) Stamper of to put that witness, Patricia aid investigators. most serious charges. One tried alongside Lecco in Powell, Ohio, and Donna Jean (Bobby) Greer of Point Burton, on the stand before Prosecutors say he later of the lawyers, Brian the case in 2007. Though Pleasant; grandchildren, Nicole (Cale) Dresbach of wrapping up his defense by turned on her because she Kornbrath, argued that found guilty on all Ashville, Ohio, and Garrett Strait of Ashville, Ohio; step Friday. They instead pre- knew he had resumed deal- prosecutors presented no charges, Copenhaver grandchildren, Brandy, Luke, Renee and Amy; and numer- sented other witnesses ing drugs.